Cell phone use?

[IntMaverick]

I'm a regular flier on Delta.
Recently I had to take quite a few regional flights (ASA). acoupel of times, the crew members asked me to shut down my cell phone even tho the door had not been closed.
I did shut it off, in order to not be a pain but it seemed like the F/a's were just throwing their weight around. Could I have insisted that i will not shut it off untill the door was closed?
thanks.

[flymeaway]

Every airline has a different policy - either exactly in line with the FAA rules, or going a bit beyond it. Maybe someone from Delta can tell you exactly what their rule is.

Most likely though, they weren't just being control-freaks. Boarding is usually a very hectic time...there are quite a lot of things to consider on a 'normal' flight - now add to that the seat dupes, kids in the exit row, the guy in 5A on oxygen, the blind woman who needed a brail briefing book and a little more of your time, and all of the FAA safety stuff that HAS to be done before the door closes lest we and our company be fined...etc, etc, etc. So when your FA is walking down the aisle knowing that the door is probably going to be closed in about 3 seconds, and sees you with your cell phone - the most efficient thing for her to do is ask that you go ahead and turn it off now - especially considering that it takes most folks another minute or 5 of talk time to actually do so.

Or maybe she was just not a nice FA. :smile_2: Who knows, but the scenario above is fairly accurate for most of us. Better than insist, politely ask if its legal to use your phone until the door is closed. It would be very bad form for someone to flat out lie about something like that...if they do just smile and ask which FAR it is and has it changed? :smirk: (Maybe that's mean, but I don't care for nazi flight attendants, either.)

Hope that helps.

[yoshi]

Very well said Flymeaway! How did people survive before Cell Phones?? I refuse to speak to anyone who checks in while they're talking on their cell phone. I kindly inform them to please step aside until they're finished with their conversation.


knowing that the door is probably going to be closed in about 3 seconds, and sees you with your cell phone - the most efficient thing for her to do is ask that you go ahead and turn it off now - especially considering that it takes most folks another minute or 5 of talk time to actually do so.




Another problem is when the agent is rushing to close the aircraft door for the "on-time departure" and the passenger is standing at the bottom of the jetbridge talking on the cell phone! No I don't have time for you to say your 5 minutes goodbye! Get in NOW!! (of course I say that with a smile! :grin:)

[N727NK]

The other day, upon landing back home at DTW, we had a nextel go off about 6 times BEFORE we hit the ground, then what sounded like a Nokia go off at braking.. One of the ladies got on the PA and told them to shut the phones off NOW...

Chris

[Eagle Eye]

According to our safety manual per FARs 91.21 and 121.306 all F/As must ensure that approved electronic devices are used only at authorized times.
When the Captain turns on the Seatbelt Sign, F/A 1/Purser gives a cabin P.A. telling customers to turn off and stow portable electronic devices.
cell phones and two-way pagers are allowed during boarding or while parked until the Captain turns on the Fasten Seatbelt Sign prior to departure, and after gate arrival.

[yoshi]

we had a nextel go off about 6 times -
then what sounded like a Nokia go off



LOL! Chris, sounds like you're spending a little too much time cooped up in that aircraft! http://smilies.jeeptalk.org/kao/mamies/pu.gif

[N727NK]

Yoshi- it was not ME who made the announcement :laugh:

LOL

Chris

[IntMaverick]

Very well said Flymeaway! How did people survive before Cell Phones?? I refuse to speak to anyone who checks in while they're talking on their cell phone.

knowing that the door is probably going to be closed in about 3 seconds, and sees you with your cell phone - the most efficient thing for her to do is ask that you go ahead and turn it off now - especially considering that it takes most folks another minute or 5 of talk time to actually do so.




Another problem is when the agent is rushing to close the aircraft door for the "on-time departure" No I don't have time for you to say your 5 minutes goodbye! Get in NOW!! (of course I say that with a smile! :grin:)



Hey Yoshi I totally agree with you. One should not be preoccupied with the phone when dealing with anybody. That is downright rude! Same goes with call waiting.

But my question was.. if DELTA has a rule that you can talk on the cell phone UNTIL the boarding door is closed, was I not within my rights to be, IN MY SEAT with the seatbelt on and on the phone? I am not asking for special treatment, just that she should not throw her weight around if i have not flouted any rule.

anyways I think flyaway gave me good info :smile_2:

cheers

[Earthling@ALB]

There is a good reason for everything when it comes to
the rules; and safety is a primary one. I turn my
cell phone and pager off when I get to the gate. I've
got voice mail and people can wait for a few hours.

The reason I am so anal about this is because I have
this problem with potential situation where my soul
could wind up being severed from my body and that would
screw up my planned camping trips, dinners with friends,
chatting with airlinecrew.net folks and a bunch of other
reasons such as the other souls on the plane who would
also wind up if the plane were to crash...

So as I sat on a flight last week and my neighbor thought
that the rules were 'bullshit', I passed along the thought
to him that if he did not turn it off - it would be
smashed...

Sorry if I am on my soapbox.

I think they should change the rules:

Turn off cell phones and pagers at security check-in
or at least prior to boarding. Break the rule: $500
fine and 30 days in jail. Ouch!

[IntMaverick]

:windsock:Ok now, don't vent your stuff against inappropriate cell phone use on me. :frown_2:

I am just as much (if not more) against abusing them or being a threat to those around us just because we want to chat!

My question related to me FOLLOWING the rules and that particular F/A being bossy!

cheers.

[Kitten_of_the_Sky]

Once we were leaving Chicago and right after takeoff you could just feel (as a flight att) something was wrong with the plane. Just then the Captain got on and quickly said "we have had a mechanical problem we are going right back."
That was really scary because the plane felt like it was just going to flip over in the air.
We landed and I went right to my assigned exit (the windows) mostly to make sure noone was going to freak out and open it.
You know what all sorts of people were on their cell phones. I just wanted to scream. I don't think people realize how those signals can mess with equipment.

On another flight the Captain was so mad we were off course by 15 miles and noone could understand why. We were looking all over to see what equipment was on. Eventually we realized this woman had been in the lavatory forever and she had gone in with what the FA had thought was a large palm pilot. Turns out she was in there watching TV.

On that flight that had to return to Chicago turns out right after take off the whole control panel went crazy.... I am sure the 50 cell phones that went on after that at one time didn't help.

[jetstewus]

It is possible that the Delta connection carrier you were traveling on has different rules about cell phone use, especially if you have experienced this policy repeatedly.

I would expect that the wholly owned Delta Connection carriers, ASA and Comair, would have almost identical policies...however contract carriers like Chautauqua, Skywest and ACA could have more stringent rules regarding cell phone use.

Speaking as a member of society and not as an airline employee, I think cellphone use has gotten out of hand, myself included. I reckon it's one of those things that has so much momentum now that there's no turning back but when did we all decide we needed to talk on the phone so much?

[exBEKL2B]

Nothing personal against your post or anything,but is it THAT difficult for passengers to understand that as soon as you get INTO the plane to switch off the phone,djeeeees, if you cannot be missed that long, take a hike, but don't be a pain in the a** on my flight.
And especially business class are the a**holes who think they and their cellphone rule the damn place. Sorry to be so negative, but this is EVERY single flight the same old story , even when we're on final roll out I hear cell phones.
Saaaaad, very sad :crazy:

[bridget74]

Oh, jetstew...you and I are of such like minds here.

The other day I was in the restroom. In the stall next to me, sitting on the toilet, was a woman talking on her cell phone!

Now, come on people...if you can't have 5 minutes of peace and quiet on the can, when can you have it??

And the other day, I was in the shopping mall, and in three different stores I saw the same girl. And each time I saw her, she was talking on her cell phone.

I'm sorry...but NOBODY is that d*mn important! If you can't go shopping without being on the phone the entire time, sit your rear at home! :grin:

And OH don't get me started about the people that talk so loud on their cell phones, because they want everyone in the vicinity to know just how important they really are! grrrr...sorry...my new pet peeve. :cool_2:

[FlyBoyChuck]

How about those new phones, that are like "walky talkies" and you can hear the person on the other end too!! As if hearing someone yell into the cell phone isn't bad enough, now you get to hear the other party yell back!! :mad_2: Our airline doesn't even allow usage of cell phones during the taxi in phase of flight, for fear of interruption with the aircrafts navigational devices. People, its just not a matter of ettiquette----its got to do with our safety, so get over yourself, and turn those damned cell phones off!!! :wink_2:

[Studley]

I'd like to make a friendly reminder to everyone venting here that there are ALREADY two threads on this very topic in the Zero Tolerance forum, for your venting pleasure ("mobile phone policies", and "electronic device users").

Part of the purpose of this forum is to allow pax to ask questions of crewmembers about things regarding the air travel experience they may not understand.

Maverick has had his question best answered by flymeaway, and has asked y'all TWICE, not to be vented on.

Remember, you are responsible for what you post. You are ALSO responsible for WHERE you post.

We now return you to our regularly scheduled program, already in progress.

[Sugarpuffs]

Ooops slap wristies to us all from Studley.
:blush: :grin: :grin:
I include me here 'cos I was just about to write something here. :grin: :grin: I funny story :grin: :grin: about a cellphone.
Guess it will have to go in the ???Diary??? next week.
:grin: :grin:

[IntMaverick]

I'd like to make a friendly reminder to everyone venting here that there are ALREADY two threads on this very topic in the Zero Tolerance forum, for your venting pleasure ("mobile phone policies", and "electronic device users").

Part of the purpose of this forum is to allow pax to ask questions of crewmembers about things regarding the air travel experience they may not understand.

Maverick has had his question best answered by flymeaway, and has asked y'all TWICE, not to be vented on.



We now return you to our regularly scheduled program, already in progress.




<font color="purple">

Thank you Studley.... :smile_2: .. I want to respond to the vents but all I had was a question, and,as you pointed out, flymeaway answered it best.

[bridget74]

Awww...I'm sorry, IntMaverick...

I wasn't meaning to vent on you, babe. I don't think anyone here was. Just cell phone use in general.

My apologies for crossing the line. :smile_2:

[Terika]

IntMaverick:

I have the feeling that on that specific day, the f/a was just trying to be a Nazi F/a , or having some sort of power trip! But you are indeed right about something: You are allowed to use cell phones untill the main cabin door is closed. Usually at that time, f/a will make a PA to prepare doors for departure and to pls turn off cell phones at this time!
I usually dont fuss over passengers talking on cell phones untill the door is closed....
You do sound however like a real good PAX to have on board..

[Mystere IV A]

I think that it depends really on each and every airline procedure.

As far as for AF, you are simply not allowed at all to have your cell on while on board. Cell must be switched off prior to boarding, and on again after disembarking.

Fly High :windsock:
:pilot_2:

[IntMaverick]

Awww...I'm sorry, IntMaverick...

I wasn't meaning to vent on you, babe. I don't think anyone here was. Just cell phone use in general.

My apologies for crossing the line. :smile_2:




<font color="purple"> HI Bridget,

au contraire, you did not write or say anything offensive at all (unless I misunderstood what you wrote.. in which case... ;-) )

Thanks for making me feel comfortable, though. you are an asset to Airline crew, like Mystere, Studley, Sugarpuff, Yoshi (not seen a post from her lately) unlike those jerks that messed around with jetboy..

Cheers :grin:

[IntMaverick]

IntMaverick:

I have the feeling that on that specific day, the f/a was just trying to be a Nazi F/a , or having some sort of power trip! But you are indeed right about something: You are allowed to use cell phones untill the main cabin door is closed. Usually at that time, f/a will make a PA to prepare doors for departure and to pls turn off cell phones at this time!
I usually dont fuss over passengers talking on cell phones untill the door is closed....
You do sound however like a real good PAX to have on board..


<font color="purple">

And you, madam (oiselle!) are one of CO's finest, I am sure.

Int "wanna be on your flight" Maverick.

[Terika]

IntMaverick:

.......and YOUUUUUUUU are the sweetest! Thank You dear....
When are you going to be on my flight???

[Nighthawk79]

One of my collegues was travelling on a domestic flt in Egypt, I guess she was on a MS flt. She said during the entire flight the passemgers were using their mobile phones.

When she asked the F/A, if it wouldnt be dangerours when everyone is using their mobiles, the F/A responded: "She cant do anything, she already asked them to switch their mobile off, but the pax are not listening..." :blush:

That´s why I avoid using several airlines. :smirk:

:pilot: :plane: :pilot_2:

[westjet_freak]

Cell phones aren't too much of a problem on WestJet but we wait until door close but it is easier if we tell someone before door closing to sit down and turn it off. Actually one time I had to explain to the person on the other end that the man was on a plane and the F/A was being a bitch and making him end the call. His words not mine. LOL!
http://www.aerosite.net/logos/westjet.gif
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WestJet_Freak... Getting so close to 100 posts!!!

[richkiwi]

At Air New Zealand you can not use any cell phone from doors closing till they reopen again . Even though now there are supposed to be cell phones that do not disrupt aircraft electronics how am i going to know the difference between models of cell phones. Thats why we have a complete ban on cell phone useage .
Cheers
Rich